Closure device for bottle coolers and the like



Feb. 18, 1947.

K. K. WATSON CLOSURE DEVICE FOR BOTTLE COOLERS AND THE LIKE Filed May 25, 1944 L JATVENTOR Kermit K WGTSOH/ 7 ATTORNEY Patented Feb. 18, 1947 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE" CLOSURE DEVICE FGR BGTTLE COOLERS AND THE LIKE Kermit K. Watson, Morrison, Ill.,.assignor to Ice Cooling Appliance Corporation, Morrison, 111., a corporation of Delaware Application May 25, 1944, SerialNo. 537,221

4 Claims. 1

This: invention relates to improvements in closure devices for bottle coolers or similar containers having two complementary lids or covers.

The principal object of the invention is to provide a simple, efficient and readily operable means for the two lids which permits opening of said lids either by swinging it upwardly, or sliding it laterally beneath the other lid, to provideaccess to the container.

The invention may best be understood by reference to the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a View in side elevation of a bottle cooler constructed in accordance with my invention, with a portion of the side wall broken away to show the lid supporting and guide means.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary detail section taken on line 2, 2 of Figure 1, and drawn to a larger scale.

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the container with parts broken away to show certain details.

In the embodiment of my invention shown in the drawing, Ill indicates a container of the'general type commonly used for cooling bottled beverages, and consisting of a bottom side walls |2, |2 and end walls |3, |3. The upper margins of the container form in effect an open frame, excepting for an intermediate cross bar M, which is suitably connected between the opposite side walls |2, |2 at the upper edges thereof.

The covers |5, |5 each consist of relatively flat rectangular members, as shown herein being of identical construction, consisting of a casing N3 of sheet metal, with suitable insulating material I! therein, and having a handle I8 fixed on the top thereof near its outer end.

In Figure 1, the left-hand cover |5 (in section) is disposed in its normal closed position between the cross bar I4 and the left-hand end wall It, while the right hand cover (in side elevation) is shown in full lines in its opened position, wherein it is shifted laterally and downwardly away from its proximate right hand end wall. The latter right hand cover is also indicated in dotted lines in its normal closed position, wherein it has been shifted upwardly to a position corresponding with the closed position of the left hand cover, as shown in this figure.

The covers l5, I5 have identical supporting means at opposite ends of the container which consist of a pair of horizontally disposed rails 20, 20 extending from each end of the container along the upper edges of the side walls |2, |2 so as to'support the respective covers in closed horizontal position. In the form shown herein the rails 20, 20 consist of inverted L-shaped metal strips, suitably secured. to'the side walls.. The inner ends of, each pair of rails 2e, 2|] terminate short of the cross bar M, in relatively short, downwardly inclined rail portions 2|.

Below each pair of rails 25, near each end of the container is fixed a second pair ofrails 22, 22 which are disposed at a downwardly inclined angle toward the proximate ends of the container. joined. by a short horizontal rail section 23, at their adjacent ends, spaced slightlyv below the level of the upper rails 20, 28 as shown in Figure 1. The outer ends of the lower inclined rails 22, 22 terminate in. stops 24, 24.

It will be observed that each inclined terminal portion 2|, of an upper rail 20 at one end of the container is disposed substantially in angular alignment withthe lower inclined rail 22, at the opposite end of. the container. Furthermore, the extreme inner ends of each of said upper inclined portions 2| are spaced vertically from the portion. of the lower inclined rails 22 immediately therebelow a. distance slightly in excess of the vertical thickness of the covers |5, IS. The arrangement thus described is such as to permit either of the covers to be shifted to open position by first tilting the outer end of said cover up wardly until its inner end rests upon the inclined end section 2|. Said, cover can then be slid endwise at a downwardly inclined angle so that the inner edge thereofwill be guided beneath the extreme end of the inclined portions 2| of the opposite upper rail 20, to a fully opened position, as shown in Figure 1.

For convenience in guiding the lids beneath the rails 2|, 2| the inner edges of said lids may be chamfered at 25, 25, to correspond with the inclined lower surfaces 26, 26 of the cross bar M. The said lower inclined surfaces 26, 26 on the cross bar project downwardly so as to assist in directing the inner edge of each lid below the adjacent inner edge of the other lid.

It will also be observed that either of the covers l5, I5 can be tilted along its inner edge to a fully opened or upright position, without sliding it endwise, if desired. In such case the inner edgeof the cover will first be rocked about the inclined portion 2|, of its upper rail, and will then come to rest on the proximate lower rail 22, or the lower connecting rail 23. Thus both covers are arranged so that they can either be slid bodily into their open position, or can be swung upwardly, after the fashion of an ordinary hinged cover, as may be desired for gaining accessto the interior of the container.

The two inclined pairs of rails are- 3 cross bar and along opposite lid.

Although I have shown and described certain embodiments of my invention, it will be understood that I do not wish to be limited to the exact construction shown and described, but that vari- 1 ous changes and modifications may be made 1 without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a container having a substantiall horizontal frame open at its top, a pair of comple- 1 mentary lids adapted to close opposite ends of said frame opening, and means for supporting said lids in said frame consisting of a pair of opposed horizontally disposed rails extending inv i wardly from each end of said frame and termi- J nating with downwardly inclined portions adja cent the center of said frame, and a pair of secondary rails inclined downwardly in opposite dizontal rails substantially in alignment respectively with the inclined terminal portions of the y I latter, said secondary rails being spaced from rections from below the inner ends of said horisaid inclined portions to permit either of said lids to be swung freely upwardly about its inner edge I or slid edgewise alongthe inclined rails beneath the opposite lid.

2. In a container having a substantially hori- 1 zontal frame open at its top, and a cross bar intermediate the ends of said frame, a pair of complementary lids adapted to close said openings at opposite sides of said cross bar, and means for supporting said lids in said frame consisting'of a pair of opposed horizontally disposed" rails ex'- tending inwardly from each end of said frame j and terminating with downwardly inclined portions adjacent and below said cross bar, and a the inclined rails under the cent opposite ends thereof, each pair of rails terminating adjacent the center of said frame in horizontally spaced relation from the other pair of rails, for supporting said lids in closed position on said frame, and a pair of secondary rails fixed in downwardly inclined, opposite directions from below the inner ends of each pair'of horizontal rails, and spaced vertically from the latter, to permit either of said lids 'to be swung freely upwardly about its inner edge or slid edgewise along the inclined rails beneath the opposite lid."

4; In a container having a substantially horizontal frame open at its top, and a cross bar intermediate the ends of said frame, a pair of complementary lids adapted to close said openings at opposite sides of said cross bar, a pair of opposed horizontally disposed rails fixed along each side of said-frame adjacent each end thereof for supporting said lids in closed position in said frame, each pair of said rails terminating with downwardly inclined portions adjacent and below said cross bar, and a pair of secondary rails inclined downwardly in opposite directions'from below the inner ends of each pair of said horizontal rails substantially in alignment respectively with the inclined terminal portions of the opposite horizontal rails, said secondary rails being spaced from the inner ends of said inclined portions to opposite lid.

3. A container having asubstantially horizontal frame open at its top, a pair of complementary 3 lids adapted to close opposite ends of said frame opening, a pair of opposed horizontally disposed rails fixed along each side of said fram adja- KERMII 7K, WATSON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS are of record in the Number Name 7 Date- 2,189,389 Baker Feb. 6, 1940 1,032,702 Price et a1. July 16, 1912 304,222 Morrison Aug. 26,1884 263,670 Bauch Sept. 5, 1882 2,142,469 Williamson et a1. Jan. 3, 1939 1,193,347 Bauer I Aug. 1, 1916 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 464,560 British Apr. 20, 1937 470,712

British Aug, 20,1937 

